Your Guide To Surviving In The End Times - From The Editors of ChristianMoney.com

05/16/2011

Gettin’ Good with a Gun

It’s been said that owning a gun doesn’t make someone a shooter any more than owning a surfboard makes someone a surfer…and we happen to think that’s a spot-on notion. Gun owners recognize that firearms are, ultimately, tools, and in non-distressed conditions are the means by which they can remain safe from those who wish to do them harm. In distressed conditions, however, the importance of firearms becomes greatly magnified. For one thing, depending on the nature of your particular survival situation, a firearm can be used to put food on the table and keep predatory animals at bay. Beyond that, a firearm can make all the difference in keeping you and your family members safe from human predators in a period of deteriorating conditions that give rise to increased lawlessness.

Unfortunately, of all the people who are gun owners, there are far too few who are experienced, credible gun users. There’s a disturbingly high number of people who believe that simply coming to own a loaded firearm is enough, in terms of firearm preparedness, and that they will simply react appropriately and with good instincts should the time come when they have to use that firearm in an actual, life-or-death situation. The reality is that learning to shoot a firearm both safely and effectively, in conditions that are more complex than those characterized by standing in front of static paper targets and firing at one’s leisure, takes both professional instruction and regular practice…whether or not you want to admit it.

State and local laws can vary widely on the ownership of firearms, and because of that, it’s possible you may have come to own one without having to have taken any course in shooting proficiency. If that’s your situation, and you have little-to-no previous experience with firearms, then you are advised to take a course in basic firearms safety and proficiency at your earliest convenience. Honestly, we don’t know of any gun range that does not offer such courses, so look for a gun range that’s in your area and find out what that facility offers in the way of gun safety and proficiency courses – there’s sure to be something.

Once you have mastered the basics, make it your goal to attend a more advanced course in combat-style shooting; this is key. Ultimately, the type of shooting you may find yourself doing in a survival situation will be much more demanding than the kind of shooting you will do in any introductory course, and combat shooting courses will allow you to become proficient at such skills as rapid reload and shooting from multiple stances, as well as other aspects of tactical shooting, to include multiple targets and barricade shooting.

When looking for a good course in more advanced shooting techniques, look for one that’s taught by a NRA-certified instructor who also happens to have a long, credible history in law enforcement and/or a military job specialty that regularly relies on such skills. In other words, you want someone who has had, for a long time now, a vested interest in mastering combat shooting techniques.

Whether you are in need of a basic course, or now ready for one that’s a bit more advanced, you have to find one. The good news is that there’s no shortage (yet) of courses like these in the United States, so they’re easy to find. As noted above, the best resources are going to be the shooting ranges in your local area, as well as local gun stores. The National Rifle Association’s website (www.nra.org) is another possible resource, too, but honestly, it’s going to be easier to find the course you’re looking for from a nearby range or gun shop; the NRA’s site does not always provide what you may be seeking in your area.

In the end, gaining proficiency…real, useful proficiency…with a firearm is not difficult, but it does take training. Beyond the training, maintaining that proficiency demands that you also be willing to practice regularly. Make it a point to get to an appropriate range at least once per month to stay sharp. If you have a few friends who share your interest, by all means go through your trainings and subsequent practice sessions as a group; not only can that make things even more enjoyable, the communal influence that’s exerted on each individual by the group dynamic will help to ensure that everyone in your circle stays with the training over the long haul.

James L. Paris is the Editor-In-Chief of Christian Money.com and the author of more than 20 books on personal finance. He studied biblical prophecy while a student at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Along with completing ROTC survival and marksmanship training, he is certified as a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Selling The Mark Of The Beast – How The Antichrist Will Convince The Masses To Willingly Take The Mark.

Bob Yetman, Editor-at-Large at Christian Money.com, is an author & instructor in the realm of personal finance and investing, as well as on topics of fitness and self-defense. A U.S. Army veteran, he has earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Stetson University, numerous licenses and certifications in the financial services industry, and the Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning designations from the International Sports Sciences Association. He is the co-author of the yet to be released book, Selling The Mark Of The Beast – How The Antichrist Will Convince The Masses To Willingly Take The Mark.